There is no doubt that Pecco Bagnaia is experiencing difficulties in Ducati, but living with the uncomfortable Marc Marquez, who joined the Lenovo team this year, is only the latest of the challenges that the three-time world champion has faced in his career. As confided by his father Pietro to the Spanish podcast PecinoGP the first critical issues he had to face back in 2013 when he was racing for Team Italia in Moto3.
"They didn't teach anything and were always all angry, so I pushed for him to do a test with Mahindra thanks to the contribution of my friend Lele Martinelli, who was working with the Indian brand at the time. A team manager told me that if Pecco did that test he would never race again. I signed the release and accepted the consequences, but at that very moment the VR46 Academy was taking shape," was Bagnaia Sr.'s account of the situation.
"Uccio proposed me to join the project that was in its infancy and Pecco was overjoyed to be part of it. He went from being depressed back to being enthusiastic about motorcycle racing. So began the journey with the Sky team. His partner was Fenati, but since it was a new team during the championship there were several personnel changes and an unpleasant episode happened with Romano," he then revealed.
The next step was the agreement with Gino Borsoi and the Aspar team, oxygen to the lungs of the Chivasso rider: "There he found Jorge Martin. Chemistry immediately broke out between the two. They were very close, always eating together and sharing a room."
The problem was that while his colleagues could train, he in Turin could never ride a motorcycle. "When he was 17, he decided to move to Pesaro. Mom didn't take it well, but Pecco's determination convinced her. He was the first rider outside Rossi's circle of friends. That's precisely why he was very well received," he pointed out.
Then, on her son's character and his strengths, she said, "What strikes me about him is his eagerness to observe what others are doing on the track with enthusiasm. He really likes the technical gesture.Otherwise he is a sportsman. Quiet, focused and disinterested in making a show by showing himself for what he is not."